The reason why I hold this PC game so near and dear to my heart is the simple reason that this was the game that *forced* me to learn how to network PCs together for some multiplayer action.

Sure, Battle.net existed already, but this was back in the late 90’s early 2k’s. LAN party days, etc. Having our own LAN meant that I and seven of my closest friends can sit in a room all night and scream obscenities at each other as their dragoons march stupidly over invisible lurkers in single file over IPX/SPX networking.

Friendships were forged, ultra-competitiveness of some people were exposed.

Alcohol flowed over games of Big Game Hunters (or the more tame original version of the map) and of course the cops were called by the neighbors on more than one occasion.

And then, when you think you’ve had enough, you shelf the game along with all the other classics you’ve retired. Then six months to a year later every one of your friends has that Starcraft itch to scratch.

Years later, with every home having their own 2 or 3 PC LANs going being a commonplace thing, I still have Starcraft: Broodwars installed and ready to go on my home network.

Also, almost 10 years after the original’s release I found myself on a layover in Incheon Airport in South Korea. I was bored and found an internet connection and thought: “Hey! I’m in Korea!”

I fired up Starcraft. It was already pre-installed, what?

Immediately I had a throng of Koreans looking at my game and telling me in broken English how wrong I was.

Yep. Starcraft. Best game ever. FTW.”

For Metal Arcade’s first contest ever, we’re giving away a copy of the legendary game Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlinesfor PC on Steam. This game has made many website’s and magazine’s top 100 and even top 25 PC Games Of All Times lists. It’s even regarded by many as a worthy spiritual successor to Deus Ex, which is saying quite a lot. In the June 2011 PC Gamer, they had this to say about the game in its Best Games For Under $20 article:

“Only one game has earned the right to be seen as a potential successor to Deus Ex, and that’s Bloodlines. Troika’s dark, supernatural RPG/shooter hybrid. The shooting side is weak, but the RPG elements make up for it with a cast of amazing characters and genuinely unsettling opportunities for evil. Make sure you install the fan patches though- it’s a fixer upper.”

By the way, that mentioned patch is located here for the winner and anyone else who owns the game’s reference.

Leave a comment on this article explaining your favorite PC game of all time.

The best comment will win, but you must like and follow Metal Arcade! If you do not and you are selected as the winner, the next best comment will be chosen as a replacement. You must be a US resident to be eligible.

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About Jason Bakker

Jason Bakker is the Editor-in-Chief and founder of Metal Arcade. He loves art, music, weight lifting, audio mixing, gaming and gadgets. If you like metal, check out his band Volharding on iTunes, Spotify and Facebook.

In all honestly, there have been so many great PC titles as i’ve grown up. I’m now 26 but have the fondest memories of so many games. As for my favorites? Well for single player i was in love with Fallout and Fallout 2, and of course, this very game, Vampire: The masquerade: Bloodlines – the best game ever that came with not one, but two sets of colons in the title – you just knew it would be good. Unlike Fallout, which was playable from the begining, i became so invested in Bloodlines that at one stage i spent 2 weeks looking for the patch that would fix the game and make it playable again! That’s dedication!
As for PC multiplayer? Oh man – Quake 2, The Action Quake mod for quake 2, Unreal tournament, Starcraft: Broodwar Custom maps – they were all amazing!
But do you know what PC game took up my most time online? Of course you don’t – stupid question.. Well it was Mech Commander Gold – believe it or not.
The game in multiplayer when played between people with good intentions on the olllllddd msn gaming zone was unbeatable. I even ran my own clan for a couple of years. What a phenominal game.

Anonymous

At first I wanted to say diablo 2, but id really have to go with doom 2. I was obsessed with that game and just got lost in it for hours. Plus plugging in my phone line and playing the first ever deatthmatch was a memory ill never forget

Krakrok1UP

I’d say that Half-Life 2 is my favorite PC game of all time. A huge adventure with engaging lore and an equally engaging story is the type of game that really puts my nerd boner at attention and HL2 is a prime example. It took what was great about the original and built upon it to a staggering degree. The wondefully realized characters, story and world grabbed and pulled me in like no game before it, and like few games have since. And the shooting and puzzles were pretty damn fun to boot. And the fact that it ran and looked beautiful on my piss-poor rig definitely gives it some more clout.

My favourite PC game of all time would probably be Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 (yes I know that’s two games but come on). I just love the universe BioWare has created. Easily the best sci fi world there is. It’s so fun to explore and find out everything you can about it. The characters in the games are all interesting and for the most part likeable. The gameplay is fun and engaging. My two favourite genres are shooters and RPGs and ME combines them. Also the voice work is just outstanding. Every VA really gives it their all. Jennifer Hale is especially great and has earned my undying admiration for bringing FemShep to life.

The reason why I hold this PC game so near and dear to my heart is the simple reason that this was the game that *forced* me to learn how to network PCs together for some multiplayer action.

Sure, Battle.net existed already, but this was back in the late 90’s early 2k’s. LAN party days, etc. Having our own LAN meant that I and seven of my closest friends can sit in a room all night and scream obscenities at each other as their dragoons march stupidly over invisible lurkers in single file over IPX/SPX networking.

Friendships were forged, ultra-competitiveness of some people were exposed.

Alcohol flowed over games of Big Game Hunters (or the more tame original version of the map) and of course the cops were called by the neighbors on more than one occasion.

And then, when you think you’ve had enough, you shelf the game along with all the other classics you’ve retired. Then six months to a year later every one of your friends has that Starcraft itch to scratch.

Years later, with every home having their own 2 or 3 PC LANs going being a commonplace thing, I still have Starcraft: Broodwars installed and ready to go on my home network.

Also, almost 10 years after the original’s release I found myself on a layover in Incheon Airport in South Korea. I was bored and found an internet connection and thought: “Hey! I’m in Korea!”

I fired up Starcraft. It was already pre-installed, what?

Immediately I had a throng of Koreans looking at my game and telling me in broken English how wrong I was.